The fwag was officiawwy audorized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 24 Apriw 1959 and was formawwy introduced to de pubwic on 30 Apriw 1959 at a ceremony at Navaw Support Faciwity Carderock in Marywand .[2] It repwaced de infantry battawion fwag which had been used as de U.S. Navy's unofficiaw fwag for many years beforehand.

It is used on wand, dispwayed inside navaw offices, in parades, and for oder ceremoniaw occasions, and often on a staff at de qwarterdeck of ships in port.[3] It is not fwown by ships at sea, nor on outdoor fwagpowes on navaw wand instawwations, and is not used as an identifying mark of U.S. Navy ships and faciwities, as de U.S. Coast Guard ensign is.

1710. FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY By Executive Order 10812 of 24 Apriw 1959, de President, upon de recommendation of de Secretary of de Navy wif de approvaw of de Secretary of Defense, estabwished and prescribed an officiaw fwag for de United States Navy. This fwag is to be 4 feet 4 inches hoist (widf) by 5 feet 6 inches fwy (wengf), of dark bwue materiaw, wif yewwow fringe, 2½ inches wide. In de center of de fwag is a device 3 feet 1 inch overaww, consisting of de inner pictoriaw portion of de seaw of de Department of de Navy (wif de exception dat a continuation of de sea has been substituted for de wand area), in its proper cowors widin a circuwar yewwow rope edging, aww 2 feet 6 inches in diameter above a yewwow scroww inscribed "UNITED STATES NAVY" in dark bwue wetters.

The U.S. Navy fwag shaww be used to represent de Navy as fowwows:

At officiaw ceremonies

In parades

During officiaw Navy dispway occasions

At pubwic gaderings when de Navy is an officiaw participant

On such occasions as may be specificawwy audorized by de Secretary of de Navy.

When used for de purposes wisted above, de U.S. Navy fwag wiww accompany, and take de pwace of honor next after de nationaw ensign except

when oder branches of de armed forces are participating, in which case de service fwags wiww take de precedence of de services which dey represent, (see Articwe 1724 for de service precedences).

The U.S. Navy fwag shaww not be used for outdoor fixed (permanent) dispway purposes.

There are no cord and tassews audorized for use wif de fwag of de United States Navy.

Battwe streamers dispwayed on de U.S. Navy fwag represent bof war and non-war actions invowving combat. The siwver and bronze star embroidered dereon signify sewected actions and campaigns in which de Navy has been engaged. Presidentiaw Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation and Meritorious Unit Commendation streamers bear numeraws rader dan stars, indicating de totaw number of each award earned. Streamers are wong, narrow, swawwow-taiwed ribbons, 3 to 4 feet wong, of de same design and widf as de service ribbons or unit decoration, and are dispwayed attached to de staff bewow de ornament by a brass ring.

Note dat a "x #" designation denotes de number of streamers used to carry devices (maximum of 6), not de number of awards. For streamers dere de device cowumn wists "red numeraws", de totaw number of de award earned by ships and units of de Navy are totawwed and embroidered in red. Because dese numbers are constantwy changing, dey are not wisted here.

Jacks are additionaw nationaw fwags fwown by warships (and certain oder ships) on a jackstaff at de bow of de ship. These are usuawwy fwown onwy when not underway and when de ship is dressed on speciaw occasions.

^United States Department of de Navy (1903). "Souf Atwantic Bwockading Sqwadron". Officiaw Records of de Union and Confederate Navies in de War of de Rebewwion. p. 88. Retrieved 26 June 2014. December 9, 1864. SIR: I send you dree distinguishing pennants for de battawions of de fweet brigade–red for de howitzers, bwue for de skirmishers, and white-bwue for de marines, marked wif an anchor. It wiww be weww not to wet our saiwors and marines forget de habits to which dey have been accustomed, for dey may wose dis widout acqwiring dose of de sowdiers, and I must confess to a preference for de more exact and respectfuw training of de Navy. It is by no means necessary to cause dem discomfort, but dey shouwd never be awwowed to omit de usuaw acknowwedgements of de presence of deir officers. Very respectfuwwy, your obedient servant, J.A. Dahwgren, uh-hah-hah-hah.